Almost entire Delhi went without power for about eight hours on Monday due to the collapse of the Northern Grid, putting people to misery on a humid day when water distribution and Metro services were largely affected.

Top Delhi Power Department officials said the technical failure near Agra resulted in the collapse of the Northern Grid, which supplies electricity to Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajashtan, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. The main casualty of the power failure was the water distribution system as well as Metro services but operations at the airport remained largely unaffected as diesel generating back-up system was put to use.

Flanked by the interior secretary and a federal environmental watchdog, Gov.

New Delhi: It’s not just groundwater regulations that the Centre is looking at changing.

To be equipped with GPS to keep tabs on the service

Complaints of errant tanker drivers asking for money, delay in service and several other aberrations have prompted the Delhi Jal Board to outsource the water tankers and equip them with a global positioning system to keep tabs on the service. On Tuesday the Jal Board gave its go ahead to the project, which has been awarded after four previous failed attempts. Earlier, the DJB received no bids from companies ready to take over the tanker service. DIMS was hired as consultant and asked to conduct a study on the feasibility of the project.

PANJIM: A minor puncture in the water distribution line, along 18 June road, has caused water contamination for the second time in Panjim city.

Public Works Department (PWD) staff swung into action immediately on Monday morning to plug the damaged pipeline through which dirty water had begun flowing through the distribution lines. According to Superintending Engineer K Shrikant, the water line had been damaged by some agencies while digging the road for underground utility services.

Chief minister Sheila Dikshit’s move of privatisation of Delhi Jal Board has triggered a tug-of-war between the BJP led civic body and the Congress government.

After electricity, water is literally going to burn a hole in the pockets of Delhiites. Delhi CM Mrs Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday confirmed the government’s plan of privatisation of Delhi Jal Board, following a model similar to the one followed by the discoms for power distribution. The privatisation will result in a massive hike in water tariff.

“Privatisation of water distribution system is definitely necessary in Delhi. We want to replicate the same model in Delhi Jal Board that we have used in the privatisation of power distribution,” Ms Dikshit told reporters here.

INDIA’S BIGGEST lies hide behind its per capita figures. Our average income is $1,219 (approximately 68,300) and we are ranked 142nd in the world.